Drawer control mechanism



March I?, 1936.

c. F. MEILINK &034589 DRAWER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1934 if: l

c. F. MEILlNK DRAWER CONTROL MECHANISM .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5,l934 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 Unirea sures PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to the protection of valuables.

This invention has utility when incorporated in cash drawers forcontrolled opening and closing of the drawer With features for snapclosing and looking by remote control.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front View of an embodiment of the invention located on thetop of a counter or other support;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View from the right of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a mounting for the device when itis desired to suspend such from its support;

Fig. 4 is a detail View showing the mounting of the device when carriedupon the support;

Fig. 5 is a view on the line V-V, Fig. l, looking in the direction ofthe arrow;

Fig. 6 is a detail View of the lower chamber lccking mechanism lookingfrom within the de vice, said lock embodying features of re-lockngagainst unauthorized forcible entry;

Fig. 7 is a View on the line VII-VII, Fig. 5, looking in the directionof the arrow;

Fig. 8 is a View on the line VIII-VIII, Fig. '7, looking in thedirection of the arrow;

Fig. 9 is a detail showing a modified form of drawer closing mechanismfrom the showing in Fig. 10 is a view on the line X-X, Fig. 9, lookingin the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 11 is a view on the line XI-XI, Fig. 8, looking in the direction ofthe arrow;

Fig. 12 is a side View of the solenoid controlled mechanism for breakingthe drawer opening control circuit and closing the alarm circuit;

Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 12 with the re-set mechanism lookingthe alarm circuit closed and the drawer opening circuit open;

Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram or the controls herein; and

Fig. 15 is a detail of the switch mechanism of Fig. 12 in which thealarm circuit is normally closed and opened simultaneously with thecontrol circuit.

The invention herein comprises means for operating a cash drawer, themeans being electrically controlled so that an operator may, by closing5 a proper switch, cause the drawer to slide into open position. In caseof an emergency, by the operation of a second switch, either at thedevice itself or remote therefrom, the drawer is snapped shut and thecircuit controlling the opening mechanism is broken and cannot be re-setexcept by authorized entrance to the adjacent compartment containing theOperating mechanism.

Support I, such as a counter, may have bolts 2 upwardly therethrough tobe engaged by nuts 3 in chamber 4 of a cabinet formed by bottom plate 5,side walls 6, 7, rear wall 8, and top deck 9. The nuts 3 effectivelyengage the bottom 5 to assemble the cabinet upon the support I. In someinstances it may be desirable to have the cabinet Suspended from thecounter l, and to this 'end angle brackets le may be assembled with thetop 9 and fastened by screws or other suitable fastening means to theunder side of the counter or support I.

The side walls 6, 1, provide front portions H between which there isopening !2 to the cabinet interior. Cross member l3 extending from thefront portions ll divides the opening !2 into upper portion M and lowerportion !5. The upper portion !4 is closed by drawer front !6, while thelower portion !5 may be closed by plate H. This plate H, when removed,gives access to the compartment 4 below drawer s, in which Compartmentmay be disposed the drawer Operating mechanism disclosed herein. Itbeing desirable to prevent unauthorized tampering with the mechanism oroperation of the drawer effected through the compartment, such isprevented by looks l9, 20, each operable by a different key so that suchmay be separately held by a proprietor or auditor and by an attendant orclerk as the case may be. It is therefore necessary that two keys beused to retract bolt 2l from cabinet renforcement member 22 to removethe plate. The plate is provided with lugs 23 engaging cabinetreinforcement 24 on the opposite side from the bolt.

Means are provided to prevent forcing the locks !9, 20. To this end, oneach side of the lock housing 25 there extends brackets 26 for mountingbolts 21, each normally urged upward by compression helical springs 28but held against such upward thrust by lug 29 engaging bar 30, which isattached to the lower ends of the bolts 21. In the ordinary attempt toforce a lock of the type shown, the locks are driven inward to drive thebolt 2| away from the reinforcement 22 or to entirely knock the lockhousing 25 free from the plate ll. When this is done, the lug 29 isforced clear of the bar 30, allowing the springs 28 to throw the bolts21 upward into re-locking position with the reinforcement 22.

Authorized opening of this compartment gives access to the devicestherein controlling drawer operation. On the inner upper portion of each'side of the cabinet is mounted a bracket Si each bracket carrying apair of rollers 32, and spaced therebelow a second pair of rollers 33.The drawer |8 is provided with sides 35, which have welded thereto slidemembers 35, extending on each side between the roller pairs 32, 33, as amounting for the drawer. The drawer is freely movable into open orclosed position as supported by the rollers when free of predeterminedcontrol. The drawer l 8 is provided with back 36 to which spring 37 maybe mounted by bracket 38. The spring 31, in drawer closed position,nests in cup 39, carried by bracket di? from the cabinet rear B. Fromclosed position, release of the drawer permits the spring member 3? tothrow the drawer into open position, and as manually closed again, therear travel extent of the drawer is limited by stops ll, against whichthe back of the drawer front may abut. The drawer may be divided intosuch compartments as desired, herein being shown as change compartments42 and bill compartments 43; the bill compartments 53 being suppliedwith Weights 44.

The drawer !8 is provided with bottom 45 having brackets 46 weldedthereto, carrying roller 41. The roller 41, in drawer closed position,engages latch 48, mounted by bracket 45, as carried by plate 58 from thecabinet bottom 5. The latch 48 is normally urged upward by spring 5I,cooperating between the bracket 49 and Washer 52 about the latch 48. Pin53 through the latch determines the upward extent thereof by abuttingupper reach of the bracket 49.

The upper end of this latch 48 is tapered so that as the drawer isnormally manually pushed to closed position, the roller i?, contactingthe tapered face, will force the latch downward against the resistanceof the spring ES, which spring will again force the latch upwardimmediately the roller has passed therebeyond. The stops &I and thelatch 48 are so positioned that there is just clearance to close thedrawer and yet hold such against any looseness. Attached to the lowerend of the latch 48 are links 54 extending to armature 55 of solenoid56. Completing an electric circuit to the solenoid 56 causes thearmature 55 to pull the latch 48 downwardly so that the spring 38 canthen throw the drawer into open position. The drawer in this openposition may be manually closed, or in the case of an emergency, may besnapped closed by other mechanism within the cabinet, either controlledat the cabinet or remotely therefrom.

To this end there is provided a pair of rods 51 extending across thecabinet in the direction of drawer operation, said rods being mounted bybracket 58, welded to the inside of cabinet back 8 the remote endstherefrom being mounted in brackets 59, welded to the reinforcement 22and having pins GB extending through the rods to prevent removal fromthe rod mountings. Mounted on each of the rods 51 is a sleeve 6!slidably shiftable along the rods. The sleeves Bl extend through plate52 to have collars 53 of said sleeves welded to the plate, so that thesleeves and plate form a shiftable member horizontally slidable alongthe rods 5? as guides therefor. About each rod is helical compressionspring B i normally urging the shiftable member 62 toward the rear ofthe cabinet.

Welded to the shiftable member 52 is bar 65, carrying on each endthereof bumper 66 to engage downwardly extending member E?, as carriedby the rear termini of the slide members 35 of the drawer. The shiftableor closing member is normally held toward the front of the interior ofthe cabinet. To this end, block 68 is welded to the member or plate 62and carries member 59 hinged thereto mounting roller '16, remote fromthe hinge connection to the block. The roller TU normally engages catchH, controlled by mechanism similar to the control mechanism for thelatch 48; the control therefor being through operation of solenoid 12.

Upon energizing of the solenoid '62, the catch 'H is Withdrawn from itscontact with the roller '10 and the springs 54 throw or snap theshiftable member 62 backwardly across the cabinet along the guides El;the bumper members 86 having contacted the brackets 61, thereby pushingthe drawer inwardly until the latch 48 has locked such closed. Thesprings 64 are of sufcient force to overcome the resistance of thespring 31. Normally opening of the drawer again re-sets the closingmechanism by the bracket S'i' pulling the member 52 toward the front ofthe cabinet until the roller '10 has passed the catch 'ii and is thenheld against rear shifting until re-operation of the solenoid 12. Inorder to insure the hinge member 69 dropping so that it does not contactthe cabinet back by force of the quick throw rearwardly, spring 13extends between the bracket 49 and the member 59. The spring '53 acts topull the member 59 downwardly immediately the catch 'H has released themember for its movement rearwardly.

By the insertion of the member 69 between the catch and the block 68,the springs G i are more greatly compressed for a quicker closing throwwithout unnecessary length of the cabinet, thus permitting compactnessof the device. However, in some instances wherein the cabinet length isimmaterial, the roller TE! may be directly carried by the block 68 (Fig.9). In such instances, the spring 64 may be lengthened and the cabinetextent between the rear of the drawer and the cabinet rear increased togive the desired stroke or length of throw to insure complete closing ofthe drawer.

In the compartment i adjacent the solenoids 56, 12, is a third solenoid'14, which is energized sirnultaneously with the energizing of thesolenoid '12. The solenoid 'M is mounted on plate or bracket 15, carriedby bracket 16 welded to the bottom 5 of the cabinet. Carried above thesolenoid 14 are switches Ti, '18, operated by armature 19. When thesolenoid 14 is energized, the armature '59 moves upward, opening theswitch 11 and closing the switch 78. The armature 19 carries pin 80, andas this pin 8@ is lifted upon the solenoid being energized, notch SI oftrigger 82 engages the pin Bi! and holds the armature 19 upward untilmanually released. The trigger 82 has arm 8?. eXtending therefromthrough the bracket 15 to terminate in button or head 84. Between thisbutton or head 84 and the bracket 15 is compression helical spring 85normally urging the trigger forward so that as the pin is lifted upward,the notch 8| is brought underneath the pin and held'. In order to re-setthe device it is necessary for authorized entrance into the cabinetthrough the opening |5 and by pushing the button 84 against theresistance of the spring 85, the trigger releases the armature 19 whichdrops by gravity to then close the switch 'H and open the switch 18.

In the control of the device herein, power lines 86, 81, extend to plug88 which may be inserted in socket 89 as mounted on the side 6 of thecabinet. To establish a circuit it is simply necessary to plug in aconvenient commercial electric system, such as 110 A. C. From the socket89 the line 86 extends to the solenoid 12; the circuit to said solenoidbeing completed by line 90 past switch SI, thence by line 92 to the line81. Connected in parallel with the switch 9 l, which may be a footswitch placed at a point convenient to the cashier, may be a series ofremote switches 93 placed at various convenient places in a building,and also switch 94, which may be carried on the side 'I of the cabinetat a point convenient for an operator. The closing of any of theswitches 9 I, 93, or 94 thereby completes the circuit to the solenoid12, releasing the closing device which snaps the drawer shut. Thesolenoid 'Hi also has line 85 extend thereto and by line 95 ex tendingto line 90 is placed in parallel with the solenoid 12, so that uponenergizing of the solenoid 12 the switch '18 is closed, completing acircuit through lines 96, 91', to an alarm either in the place ofbusiness or at some remote plate, as a commercial alarm company orotherwise.

In some instances, the alarm circuit as A. D. T. normally requires aclosed circuit, and to this end the switch 18 is normally closedand-simultaneously opened with the control switch 'l'l so that the alarmis thus operated.

For normal operation of the drawer, that is, the authorized opening andclosing for re-opening, the line 85 has branch 98 extend through theswitch Ti, thence by line 99, through operating switch 100, thence byline 19! to solenoid 55, the circuit of which is completed through line!02 to the line 81.

Upon closing of the switch !50, which is adjacent the switch 94 andlocated for manual operation by the attendant, the solenoid 56 isenergized, such energizing withdrawing the latch from contact with theroller 41 thereby allowing the spring 31 to throw the drawer outwardlyfrom the cabinet. The switch TI is operated by the armature 19. Theclosing of the alarm circuit also opens this circuit and hence rendersthe switch !DU ineffective for operation once any one of the emergencyswitches has been closed. The re-set mechanism holds this circuit openuntil re-set by entrance into the cabinet.

In normal operation of the cash drawer herein, the closing mechanism isin a position entirely out of the way of offering any interference tofree and easy movement of the drawer to opened and closed positions.

The deck 9 may be used as a support for cash register or tabulatingmachine !03. Either the switch !OO or the switch 94 can be carried bysuch a machine for remote control of the drawer; the Operating buttonstherefor being among the keys thereon.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A protective receptacle including a. cash drawer, a housing therefor,spring means for the release o'f the drawer, a latch in the housing formaintaining the drawer in the housing against the action of the springmeans, a solenoid for retracting the latch to release the drawer foropening movement, a circuit for said solenoid, drawer closing meansembodying mechanism for closing the drawer, a catch normally holding themechanism against operation, a solenoid for operating said catch, acircuit therefor, means for closing said circuit to said catch Operatingsolenoid to allow the mechanism to close said drawer,

and means in said circuit simultaneously opening the circuit to saidlatch Operating solenoid.

2. A drawer, a cabinet mounting for the drawer, a latch for holding thedrawer normally in closed position, a solenoid for releasing the latch,a spring normally thrusting the closed drawer to opened position andholding the drawer against said latch, a compression spring device, acatch normally holding the device against drawer closing movement, aremote control for the catch effective to release the spring device toclose the drawer, and drawer control means cooperating with said remotecontrol to render the latch effective to hold the drawer closed.

3. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, drawer opening mechanism,drawer closing mechanism, each mechanism including a catch, a controlfor each catch, and selectable means for said controls efiective torender the drawer opening mechanism inoperable upon operation of thedrawer closing mechanism.

4. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, drawer opening mechanismembodying a spring, a latch holding said drawer closed against movementby the spring, a Shiftable member adjacent the drawer, a catch normallyholding the shiftable member clear of normal drawer operation, asolenoid for Operating said catch, means moving said shiftable memberinto drawer Contacting position to close said drawer, and meansrendering the drawer opening mechanism inoperable upon release of theshiftu able member.

5. A drawer, a cabinet. mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, drawer opening mechanismincluding a solenoid-controlled latch, drawer closing mechanismincluding a solenoid operated catch, and a third solenoid in parallelWith the catch Operating solenoid, switch means operable by said thirdsolenoid, said switch means forming a part of the circuit to said latchOperating solenoid.

6. A drawer, a cabinet providing a drawer guide mounting in which saiddrawer is shiftable to opened and closed positions, drawer propellingopening mechanism, drawer retracting closing mechanism, each mechanismincluding a catch, a control for each catch, selectable means for saidcontrols eective to render the drawer opening mechanism inoperable uponoperation of the drawer closing mechanism, and re-set means forrendering said drawer opening mechanism operative for eecting re-openingof the drawer.

7. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, drawer opening mechanismembodying a solenoid having an Operating switch exterior of the cabinet,drawer closing mechanism embodying a solenoid having an Operating switchexterior of the cabinet, means operable simultaneously with the drawerclosing mechanism to open the circuit of the drawer opening mechanismapart from the said exterior switch, and reset means within the cabinetfor again closing said opening circuit.

8. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, a latch normally holding saiddrawer in closed position, a solenoid operable to release said latch, acircuit for said solenoid, mechanism operable to close said drawer, anda 9. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, a latch normally holding saiddrawer in closed position, a solenoid operable to release said latch, acircuit for said. solenoid, a shiftable member adjacent said drawer, acatch for holding said member against interference with drawer shifting,a second solenoid for releasing said catch, and means for releasing andthereby freeing the member to close the drawer, said means precludingoperation of said circuit to release the latch.

10. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, a latch normally holding saiddrawer in closed position, a solenoid operable to release said latch, acircuit for said solenoid, a shiftable member adjacent said drawer, acatch for holding said member against interference with drawer shifting,a solenoid for releasing said catch, means for causing said member toclose the drawer, a circuit to said catch Operating solenoid, andcontrol means eective as the drawer is closed for opening the latchsolenoid circuit when operable to release said catch.

11. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, a shiftable member movable inthe direction of drawer operation, said member normally held in aposition away from interierence with drawer operation, a catch holdingsaid member in such position, a solenoid for releasing said catch, aspring for shifting said member into drawer engaging and closingposition, a circuit Operating said catch, a lock to hold the drawerclosed and intercontrol mechanism cperated by said circuitsimultaneously to operate the solenoid to release the catch to close thedrawer and preclude release of the drawer by the lock.

12. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and control actuated by' said mechanism for render-:ing the latch effective to hold the drawer closed.

closed positions, a slide adjacent said drawer, a member shiftable alongsaid slide, a spring for engaging said member to shift such along theslide, a catch for holding said. member out of drawer Operating positionagainst the resistance of said spring, said member having a bar hingedthereto, a catch engaging the opposite end of said bar, and a solenoidfor Operating said catch to free the member to act on the drawer inshifting the drawer relatively to the cabinet.

13. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, spring means for moving thedrawer into open position, a latch normally holding the drawer againstmovement by said spring, a solenoid for releasing said latch, a circuitfor controlling the solenoid, a switch in said circuit operable fromexterior of the housing to close said circuit, an additional normallyclosed switch in said circuit, a movable member in said cabinet, a catchnormally holding said movable member against shifting, a solenoid forsaid catch, a circuit for controlling the catch solenoid, a switchexterior of the cabinet in said circuit, said switch When closedreleasing the catch, means operable upon releasing said. catch to shiftsaid movable member to close the drawer, and means to simultaneouslyopen said normally closed switch in the latch Operating circuit.

14. A drawer, a cabinet mounting therefor in which said drawer isshiftable to opened and closed positions, spring means for moving thedrawer into open position, a latch normally holding the drawer againstmovement by said spring, spring means for shifting the drawer intoclosed position against the resistance of the opening spring means, acatch normally holding its closing spring means inoperative, means forreleasing said latch, and means for releasing said catch, said releasingmeans being inter-connected to effect holding of the drawer as to thecabinet as a result of drawer shifting from said release.

CHARLES F. MEILINK.

